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Story: Peripatus

Peripatoides novaezelandiae

<em>Peripatoides novaezelandiae</em>

Peripatus or velvet worms have characteristics of both worms and arthropods. They are so different from other related creatures that they have been given their own phylum – Onychophora. The most common and widespread species of peripatus in New Zealand is Peripatoides novaezelandiae. Up to 35 millimetres long, they are smoky blue in colour and have 15 pairs of stump-like legs.

Using this item

Soil Bugs – An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Soil Invertebrates

Reference: 43321.tif

by Alastair Robertson and Maria Minor

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How to cite this page

Paddy Ryan, Peripatus – Walking worms, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13243/peripatoides-novaezelandiae (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

hayden lewis
30 March 2012
We have seen peripatus at Mr Hales farm. Giles has held a peripatus in his hand.
Pearl Jeffrey
30 March 2012
We have been to Khans bush to learn about the velvet worm also known as the Peripatus. We learnt that the periptus dosen't dig its own hole it finds other holes that worms or huhu grubs dig. Khan Coleman was the first person to find a peripatus at Khans bush.Actully they have 14 pairs of legs which equalls 28.D
Donald Duncan
30 March 2012
We know where the Peripatus live.Mr Hales farm. Mr Hales is one of our friends and he lets us go on his farm every year to find the peripatus, and we have seen heaps of them.
Prince & Kerr, Daniel & Dougal
30 March 2012
We are Weber Scool and we have seen the Periputus at Khams bush. We have been filmed by Emma Heke
Nicholas Wisenberg
30 March 2012
We went Brain Hales' wetlands. We went into Khans Bush and discovered that there were a couple of peripatus in there. One of the students held one of the peripatus in their hand. They are amazing creatures. We are very interested in the velvet worm and found your website majorly helpful. They are pretty remarkable and the white trail that they is really cool. Jet Jeffrey, Nicholas Wisenberg and Josie Free.